Food served in the district’s hospitals ranged in quality and choice, according to a new survey.

Hospitals are now being ranked on the NHS Choices website for the quality of their food in a bid to drive up standards.

At Braintree Community Hospital, quality was rated 98.15 per cent and choice was 90.42 per cent, both mid range.

The choice of breakfast was among the best, and fresh fruit and snacks were available.

Food cost £9.90 per patient per day, which was mid range.

Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford was rated 83.83 per cent for food quality, among the worst, but 96.65 percent for choice, among the best.

Breakfast choices were mid range, and fresh fruit and snacks were available.

Food cost £9.90 per patient.

Halstead Hospital was only rated 66.4 per cent for food choice, among the worst, but 96.3 per cent for quality.

There was no fresh fruit and snacks were only available in the morning and afternoon.